Sunday, April 28, 2013

Chocolate Strawberry Oasis Pie

From the movie 'Waitress'

“Just a pie?! It’s downright expert. A thing of beauty...how each flavor opens itself, one by one, like a chapter in a book. First, the flavor of an exotic spice hits you...just a hint of it...and then you get flooded with chocolate, dark and bittersweet like an old love affair. And finally strawberry. The way strawberry was always supposed to taste, but never knew how.”This isn't a difficult pie to create, but it's not quick, either. Prepare to make a mess, but oh....it's heavenly.IngredientsFor Chocolate Silk Filling¼ cup unsalted butter5 ounces bittersweet chocolate16 ounce package mini marshmallows1/3 cup whipping cream1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 teaspoons Chai SpiceTo make Chai spice combine 2 tablespoons each of ginger, cloves, cinnamon and fennel and 1 tablespoon of cardamom in a small food processor or clean coffee grinder and grind smooth. Store in your spice pantry.Strawberry Filling2 cups strawberries, slightly crushed1/3 cup sugar1/3 cup water4 tablespoons cornstarch1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar2 ½ cups strawberries halved if small or diced if largeCrust2 cups crushed chocolate graham crackers¼ cup brown sugar6 tablespoons butterWhipped Cream for garnishPreheat oven to 350. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and sugar together. Slowly add graham cracker crumbs until combined and press into a pie plate. Use a spatula at first, but then you are going to need to get your hands down in there and get it packed in well. Bake for 10 minutes and then set aside to cool.Chocolate filling:In a saucepan over low heat, slowly melt the chocolate, chai spice and butter until smooth. Add vanilla and marshmallows a little at a time until they are all melted and the mixture is smooth. Add whipping cream. Refrigerate while making strawberry filling.Strawberry filling:Combine the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. In a medium saucepan, combine the crushed strawberries with the sugar until they start to get a little warm and juicy. Add cornstarch mixture and continue to cook over medium heat until it starts to thicken and bubble. Remove from heat and add vinegar. Cool for 15 minutes, then add the diced/halved strawberries. Cool to room temp.Assembly:Pour the chocolate filling into the crust and top with the strawberry filling. Refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Monday, April 8, 2013

'Bad Baby Pie'...also known as 'I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie'. If you've never seen the movie Waitress, you should watch it. This recipe comes from the movie and it's one of my favorite films. Quirky and funny. And pie! In fact, go get the movie and make the pie for a lovely evening. I love dinner/movie combinations. Here are some ideas. Please feel free to add some.

Les Miserables- goes nicely with Coq au Vin and wine (everything goes nicely with wine!)
Mystic Pizza- Pizza. duh
Eat, Pray, Love - Spagetti, cannoli and some Indian take out. Go nuts. YOLO
Chocolat- Again, a no brainer. Lots of it. Chocolate cake, hot chocolate, fondue, etc
The Breakfast Club- bacon and eggs or waffles. Coffee with Bailey's
Steel Magnolias - Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes and Red Velvet Cake
Pretty In Pink - Go with an all pink buffet. Shrimp cocktail, pink cupcakes, watermelon, strawberries, pink lemonade, pink champagne. You can use food coloring to make pink hummus or mashed potatoes.
The Bucket List - French Fries topped with cheese, jalapenos, and gravy
Frida- Your favorite Mexican dish or 'make your own nachos bar'
Memoirs of a Geisha - Sushi
Unforgiven - Steak and potatoes
You get the idea. And, although I stole this line from someone else's blog, it made me laugh, so I thought I'd share: “You know what they call The Hunger Games in France?” “BattleRoyale with cheese.”

Bring refrigerated pie crust to room temperature (or make one from scratch. Showoff) and preheat oven to 400. Place crust in a pie plate and prick all over with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 350.

Melt butter in a skillet and sauté the green onions until they are soft. Add chopped ham until it's slightly browned.

Whisk together eggs, cream and nutmeg.

Place onions and ham into crust. Follow with cubed brie cheese, then add the grated parmesan cheese. Pour the egg/cream mixture over evenly and finish with some fresh black pepper. I don't add salt to this and it didn't need any in my opinion. The ham adds plenty of salt.
Place pie dish on a baking sheet and bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean and it's not wobbly in the middle.

I served this with a salad and I have to say, I think this is the best quiche I've ever had. It's so gooey and cheesy.
More 'Waitress' pies to come!

It's All About Me

My soul is the color of the turquoise sea that surrounds Isla Mujeres, the island that I love. In reality I live Texas. I am the Goddess of my own religion and I prefer calm to chaos, cats to dogs and silver to gold. I play by my own rules and could live on Paciugo Caramel Sea Salt Gelato.